Touch screen device and operating method thereof

ABSTRACT

A touch screen device and an operating method are provided in which only a specific position on a touch screen is activated to receive signals. The touch screen device includes a screen including a display configured to display menu images thereon and a detector configured to detect a screen touch, and a controller configured to control operations of the device according to the screen touch detected by the detector. The controller may cause the detector to be divided into an execution area configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on the execution area is touched, and a selection area configured to sequentially move the menu images to the execution area when the selection area is touched. Alternatively, the controller may cause the detector to be divided into a moving area configured to move a menu from a touch point along a drag line while the menu is dragged, and an execution area configured to execute the relevant menu when the touch on the execution area is released. With a touch screen device so configured, the menus are executed only in a limited execution area.

This is a Continuation Application of Ser. No. 11/646,597 filed on Dec.28, 2006, which claims priority to Application Serial No.10-2006-0046698 filed in Korea on May 24, 2006, the entirety of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

A touch screen device and operating method thereof are disclosed herein.

2. Background

Recently, most portable information terminals have been provided asintelligent or multi-functional terminals that can process a variety ofmultimedia information, such as music, games, photographs, and videos,rather than provide only a specific single function. Further, each ofthe portable information terminals is provided with a variety of keybuttons capable of easily selecting and executing the aforementionedfunctions. However, since portable information terminals are smallenough to be easily carried, there are difficulties in configuring aportable information terminal capable of providing all the key buttonsfor executing the functions.

Therefore, the latest digital portable information terminals allow auser to more conveniently input and process necessary information byemploying a touch screen as a user interface. That is, since the size ofa display should be maximized within a limited size thereof, the datainput is generally implemented as a touch screen with which a finger orstylus pen is used.

In this way, touch screen input, which considerably increases userconvenience in comparison with inputting user information throughconventional key buttons, is widely employed as the user informationinput device and recently has been applied to most portable informationterminals. Since the touch screen method allows all processes forperforming specific functions to be executed on a touch screen afterpower is turned on, the functions of the portable information terminalcan be sufficiently performed even though no input buttons are provided.

However, icons displayed on the touch screen should be selected to usethe portable information terminal. At this time, it is difficult totouch a desired icon with a finger if the size of the touch screen ofthe portable information terminal is small. That is, this is not aproblem for portable information terminals having large screens,however, there is a high probability that finger touch errors will begenerated where the portable information terminals are small in size,such as MP3 players, portable multimedia players (PMPs), and personaldigital assistants (PDAs). In other words, in the case of a portableinformation terminal having a small screen, icons are densely arrangedon the screen of the portable information terminal. Therefore, it isinconvenient for a user to select and input necessary information.Further, it is contradictory to the fact that a touch screen is employedas an input means to improve the user convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elementswherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a touch screen device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a touch screen device according to anembodiment described in more detail;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of operating a touch screen deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are exemplary views illustrating operations of a touchscreen device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a touch screendevice according to another embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6D are exemplary views illustrating operations of a touchscreen device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view illustrating operations of a touch screendevice according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings. Herein, like elements are designated by likereference numerals.

The touch screen device according to embodiments may be applied to allkinds of digital equipment to which a touch screen device is mounted,such as a MP3 player, a portable media player, a PDA, a portableterminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer. Moreover, thetouch screen device according to embodiments may be used with electronicbooks, newspapers, magazines, etc., different types of portable devices,for example, handsets, MP3 players, notebook computers, etc., audioapplications, navigation applications, televisions, monitors, or othertypes of devices using a display, either monochrome or color. Forconvenience of explanation, an exemplary MP3 player will be describedherein by way of example. Further, touch can include any type of director indirect touch or contact, using, for example, a finger or stylus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a touch screen device according to anembodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the touch screen device 1 may comprise ascreen 10 having a function of inputting and displaying information. Thescreen 10 may comprise a display 20 for displaying a plurality of menuinformation (icons, etc.) and data thereon, and a detector 30 fordetecting a touching action to select menus 50 or data displayed on thedisplay 20. When the screen 10 is touched to select the menus 50 or datadisplayed on the display 20 using, for example, a finger 60 or a styluspen, the detector 30 may detect whether the screen 10 has been touched.

The display 20 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED), or an organiclight emitting diode (OLED). In one embodiment, the detector unit 30 isa thin layer provided on a front surface of the display 20, whichemploys a resistive or capacitive method. However, alternatively, othertouch screens such as touch screens that utilize infrared rays may alsobe employed.

In the case of a resistive touch screen, the touch screen may beconfigured in such a manner that two layers coated with resistivematerials are provided which are kept at a constant interval andelectric currents are supplied to both the layers. If pressure isapplied to a layer so that it comes into contact with another layer, anamount of electric current flowing along the layers may be changed and atouch point thus detected by the change in electric current. Incontrast, in the case of a capacitive touch screen, the touch screen maybe configured in such a manner that both surfaces of glass are coatedwith conductive metal and electric voltage is applied to edges of theglass. In such a case, high frequencies flow along the surface of thetouch screen and a high frequency waveform may be distorted when afinger is touched on the surface of the touch screen, and a touch pointdetected by the change in the waveform.

The screen 10 may be connected to a controller 40 that controls anaccess command corresponding to the menu 50 selected according to thedetection results of the detector 30 or data, such as additionalinformation or messages to be described below from a storage device, andthus, the display of the command or data onto the screen 10.

The controller 40 may control not only the display 20 but may alsocontrol the overall operation of the digital equipment. Further, thecontroller 40 may operate the digital equipment according to thedetection results of the detector 30.

According to one embodiment, the controller 40 allows the detector 30 tobe divided into two portions. That is, referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, thecontroller 40 may assign one portion of the detector 30 as an executionarea 30 a. The execution area 30 a may be an area in which the menu 50corresponding to a touch is executed. The other portion may be assignedas a selection area 30 b. The selection area 30 b may be an area inwhich when the touch is detected, the displayed menus 50 aresequentially moved to the execution area 30 a.

That is, the controller 40 may execute a corresponding menu 50 when atouch is detected at a coordinate corresponding to the execution area 30a and move the menus 50 to the execution area 30 a when a touch isdetected at a coordinate corresponding to the selection area 30 b. Inone embodiment, the controller 40 may continuously move the menus 50while the touch is maintained on the selection area 30 b.

In FIG. 2, a touch screen device according to an embodiment is describedin more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the screen 10 may comprise a touchscreen or detector 30 and a display 20. In one embodiment, a thin filmtransistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) may be used as the display20. The touch screen or detector 30 may be connected to a touch panel ordetector controller 42 for signalizing a touch detected on the touchscreen or detector 30. The display 20 and the touch screen or detectorcontroller 42 may be connected to and operated under the control of amain controller 44.

Further, a panel information storage device 45 for storing partitioninformation of the touch screen or detector 30 may be connected to themain controller 44. In one embodiment, the partition information storedin the panel information storage device 45 may be classified byoperation mode and contains information indicative of whether a specificposition on the touch screen or detector 30 is included in a selectionor moving area or an execution area. Accordingly, the information onwhether the respective positions are included in the execution area orthe selection or moving area on the basis of coordinate axes may bestored by mode.

Furthermore, a data storage device 46 for storing, for example, MP3files may be connected to the main controller 44. For example, a NANDmemory capable of rapidly and easily storing and reading out a largeamount of information may be used as the data storage device 46.

A portion of the data storage device 46 may be used as the panelinformation storage device 45. However, use of a separate panelinformation storage device 45 constructed of a NOR memory that isrelatively superior in the stability of information may be advantageous.

In addition, a universal serial bus (USB) port 48 serving as aninterface for modifying data may be connected to the main controller 44.The USB port 48 may be connected to an external device such that thepartition information and data stored in the data storage device 46 maybe updated, deleted, or modified.

Moreover, the main controller 44 may be provided with a random accessmemory (RAM) 47 for driving the display device, for which a synchronousdynamic RAM (SDRAM) is may be used.

Hereinafter, the operation of a touch screen device according to anembodiment will be described in detail according to the executionmethod.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of operating a touch screen deviceaccording to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation of thetouch screen starts from detecting a screen touch by the detector 30, instep S10.

If the detector 30 detects a touch on the screen 10, the controller 40may determine whether the touch point is within the execution area 30 a,in step S20. The execution area 30 a and the selection area 30 b may beset beforehand and stored. If the touch point is within the executionarea 30 a, the controller 40 may execute a menu 50 corresponding to thetouch point, in step S21. If the touch point is within the selectionarea 30 b, that is, the portions outside the execution area 30 a, thecontroller 40 may sequentially move images of the menus 50 displayed onthe display 10 such that the menus can be positioned within theexecution area 30 a, in step S22.

The controller 40 may check whether the touch is released after movingthe images of the menus 50, in step S23. Then, if the touch is released,the controller 40 may terminate the operation and wait for a new touchinput. However, if the touch is not released, the controller 40 mayrepeatedly perform the steps of sequentially moving the images of themenus 50 and then checking whether the touch has been released. Thereason is that the images of the menus 50 may be moved by a desirednumber of times by continuously maintaining a single touch instead ofperforming several touches several times when a user intends to move theimages of the menus 50 several times.

Next, operation of an embodiment so configured will be explained fromthe viewpoint of a user.

FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrating the operation of an embodiment according toinput of a user.

FIG. 4A shows an example in which the execution area 30 a is located atthe lower center of the screen 10 and the menus 50 are arranged in theform of a circle with the center positioned at the center of the screen10. In this state, a user determines a desired menu 50 that the userwishes to execute. For example, when the user wishes to operate an MP3player, the user may position the “MP3” menu 50 on the execution area 30a. However, since the “GAME” menu 50 is currently positioned on theexecution area 30 a, the menus 50 should be moved.

Accordingly, the user touches the selection area 30 b of the screen 10.FIG. 4B shows that the user touches the selection area 30 b. Thus, themenus 50 rotate clockwise, and the “MP3” menu 50 is positioned on theexecution area 30 a. If a user wishes to record, he/she may continuouslytouch the selection area 30 b until the “REC” menu 50 is positioned onthe execution area 30 a. After a desired menu 50 has been positioned onthe execution area 30 a, the user may merely touch the execution area 30a. When the execution area 30 a is touched, the controller 40 mayexecute the relevant menu 50 positioned on the execution area 30 a. Inthis example, the operation mode is changed to an “MP3” mode.

Next, the configuration, operation, and illustration of anotherembodiment will be described in comparison with those of the previousembodiment with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6D.

First, this embodiment may have the same configuration as the previouslydescribed embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Only the functions of thecontroller 40 may be different.

The controller 40 according to this embodiment may allow the detector 30to be divided into a moving area 30 d and an execution area 30 c. When auser touches and moves (hereinafter, referred to as ‘drags’) the menu50, the moving area 30 d may allow an image of the touched menu 50 to bemoved along a drag line. Further, the execution area 30 c may allow therelevant menu 50 to be executed when the touch is released.

Hereinafter, operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 6D will bedescribed with respect to the execution order.

As shown in FIG. 5, this exemplary embodiment may also be operated whenthe detector 30 detects a touch on the screen 10, in step S100. Then,the detector 30 may also detect a drag line along which the touch ismoved. The controller 40 may cause a position of the image of therelevant menu 50 to move along the drag line. That is, the image of themenu 50 may be moved as a touch point is changed, in step S200.

Thereafter, the detector 30 may detect whether the touch is released, instep S300. In one embodiment, the relevant menu 50 may be executed whenthe touch is released. The release of the touch may be detected todetermine whether the relevant menu 50 will be executed.

If the touch is not released, the touching action may be considered tobe maintained. Thus, the detector 30 may wait until the touch isreleased. Only after the touch has been released, the detector 30 maydetermine whether a release point is on or within the execution area 30c step S400.

If the release point is on the execution area 30 c, the controller 40may execute the relevant menu 50 and then wait for the input of the nexttouch signal, in step S410. However, if the release point is not on orwithin the execution area 30 c but on the moving area 30 d, thecontroller 40 may not execute the relevant menu 50. In addition, thecontroller 40 may return the relevant menu 50 to a position before thetouch is made, and the controller 40 may also wait for the input of thenext touch signal, in step S420. Therefore, if a user recognizes thetouch of a wrong menu 50 while dragging the desired menu 50, he/she maystop dragging the relevant menu within the moving area 30 d to cancelthe execution of the relevant menu 50 such that the relevant menu can bereturned to its initial state.

Next, the operation of the embodiment so configured will be explainedfrom the viewpoint of a user, referring to FIGS. 6A to 6D.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a user who intends to execute the menu 50 firsttouches the menu 50 that the user wishes to select. FIG. 6A shows a casein which a user wishes to execute the “MP3” menu 50.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the user may drag the relevant menu 50 fromthe touch point to the execution area 30 c. Next, as shown in FIG. 6C,if the touch is released from the execution area 30 c, the correspondingmenu 50 may be executed. Further, in a case where the user does not wishto execute the menu 50 while dragging the relevant menu 50, he/she maymerely release the touch from the moving area 30 d.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6C, if the other menu is dragged andplaced at the execution position while an MP3 play mode is operated, theprevious menu may be terminated and an icon indicative of the previousmenu may be simultaneously returned to its original position. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6D, if a user drags an icon representing aradio listening mode into the execution area while the MP3 play mode isoperated, the icon representing the MP3 play mode may be returned to itsoriginal position and the radio listening mode executed.

Embodiments of the invention may be executed according to an operationmode. That is, in an operation mode in which a menu 50 is selected andexecuted, the area of the detector 30 may be divided as described above.However, in an operation mode other than the selection of the menu 50,the entire detector 30 may be activated and used.

In the above description, the execution area is set as a fixed position.However, the execution area may be movable.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, while the menu icons are displayed at fixedpositions, the user may touch and drag the execution area onto a desiredmenu icon. That is, if the execution area is dragged onto the desiredmenu icon and the touch is then released, the menu included in theexecution area may be executed. In order for the user to easily identifythe execution area, the execution area may be displayed in a differentcolor.

In a touch screen device and an operating method of a touch screendevice according to embodiments as described above, at least thefollowing advantageous effects may be expected.

That is, as described above, the probability of erroneously selectingand executing icons in a terminal device where a plurality of icons aredensely arranged, due to a small screen size, may be minimized. Further,an icon operation may be performed as a user drags and moves a desiredmenu image. Therefore, product distinction effects may be expected dueto a difference from a conventional method in which a desired icon ismerely clicked to drive a relevant program. In addition, the screentouch device according to embodiments may be convenient to use since auser can cancel the execution of a selected menu while dragging aselected menu image.

According to one embodiment broadly described herein, a touch screendevice is provided which includes a screen unit including a display unitfor displaying menu images thereon and a detection unit for detecting ascreen touch by a user, and a control unit for controlling operations ofthe device according to the screen touch detected by the detection unit,wherein the detection unit is divided, by the control unit, into anexecution area configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on theexecution area is touched, and a selection area configured tosequentially move the menu images to the execution area when theselection area is touched. When a touch is detected on the selectionarea, the control unit may cause the menu images to be continuouslymoved while the touch on the selection area is maintained.

According to another embodiment broadly described herein, there isprovided a touch screen device, which includes a screen unit including adisplay unit for displaying menu images thereon and a detection unit fordetecting a screen touch by a user, and a control unit for controllingoperations of the device according to the screen touch detected by thedetection unit, wherein the detection unit is divided, by the controlunit, into a moving area configured to move a menu from a touch pointalong a drag line while the menu is dragged, and an execution areaconfigured to execute the relevant menu when the touch on the executionarea is released. The control unit may return the relevant menu to aninitial position before the touch, when the touch is released from themoving area. The detection unit may be a resistive or capacitive touchscreen.

According to a further embodiment broadly described herein, there isprovided a method of operating a touch screen device in which adetection unit for detecting a screen touch by a user is divided into anexecution area configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on theexecution area is touched and a selection area configured to move menuimages when the selection area is touched. The method includesrecognizing the screen touch by the user, executing the relevant menuplaced on a touch point when the touch point is within the executionarea, and sequentially moving the menu images placed on the selectionarea to the execution area when the touch point is within the selectionarea. The menu images may be continuously moved while the touch on theselection area is maintained.

According to a still further embodiment, there is provided a method ofoperating a touch screen device in which a detection unit for detectinga screen touch by a user is divided into a moving area configured tomove a menu from a touch point along a drag line while the menu isdragged and an execution area configured to execute the relevant menuwhen the touch on the execution area is released. The method may includerecognizing the screen touch by the user, moving an image of therelevant menu along the drag line when the menu is dragged, andexecuting the relevant menu when the touch on the execution area isreleased. The method may further include returning the image of therelevant menu to an initial position before the touch, when the touch isreleased from the moving area.

According to a still further embodiment broadly described herein, thereis provided digital equipment mounted with a touch screen device whichincludes a screen unit including a display unit for displaying menuimages thereon and a detection unit for detecting a screen touch by auser, and a control unit for controlling operations of the deviceaccording to the screen touch detected by the detection unit, whereinthe detection unit is divided, by the control unit, into an executionarea configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on the executionarea is touched, and a selection area configured to sequentially movethe menu images to the execution area when the selection area istouched.

According to a still further embodiment broadly described herein, thereis provided digital equipment mounted with a touch screen device whichincludes a screen unit including a display unit for displaying menuimages thereon and a detection unit for detecting a screen touch by auser, and a control unit for controlling operations of the deviceaccording to the screen touch detected by the detection unit, whereinthe detection unit is divided, by the control unit, into a moving areaconfigured to move a menu from a touch point along a drag line while themenu is dragged, and an execution area configured to execute therelevant menu when the touch on the execution area is released.

Embodiments disclosed herein may prevent undesired menus from beinginadvertently executed since the menus are executed only in a specificarea.

According to another embodiment broadly disclosed herein, a touch screendevice is provided that includes a screen including a display configuredto display menu images thereon and a detector configured to detect ascreen touch, and a controller configured to control operations of thetouch screen device according to the screen touch detected by thedetector, wherein the detector is divided by the controller into anexecution area configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on theexecution area is touched, and a selection area configured tosequentially move the menu images to the execution area when theselection area is touched. When a touch is detected on the selectionarea, the controller may cause the menu images to be continuously movedwhile the touch on the selection area is maintained. Further, thedetector may be a resistive or capacitive touch screen. Furthermore,digital equipment may comprise the touch screen device. The digitalequipment may comprise a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portableterminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.

According to another embodiment broadly disclosed herein, a touch screendevice is provided that includes a screen including a display configuredto display menu images thereon and a detector configured to detect ascreen touch, and a controller configured to control operations of thetouch screen device according to the screen touch detected by thedetector, wherein the detector is divided by the controller into amoving area configured to move a menu from a touch point along a dragline while the menu is dragged, and an execution area configured toexecute the relevant menu when the touch on the execution area isreleased. The controller may return the relevant menu to an initialposition before the touch, when the touch is released from the movingarea. Further, the detector may be a resistive or capacitive touchscreen. Furthermore, digital equipment may comprise the touch screendevice. The digital equipment may comprise a MP3 player, a portablemedia player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebookcomputer.

According to another embodiment broadly disclosed herein, a touch screendevice is provided that includes a touch panel configured to detect ascreen touch, a touch panel controller configured to signalize the touchdetected on the touch panel and control the touch panel, a displayconfigured to display images, a panel information storage deviceconfigured to store data of the touch panel, and a main controllerconfigured to control operation of the touch panel controller and thedisplay. The panel information storage device may store partitioninformation of the touch panel divided into an execution area and aselection area. The partition information may be classified by operationmode. The panel information storage device may be a NOR flash memory.

Additionally, the device may further include a USB port connected to anexternal device configured to update or modify the partition informationstored in the panel information storage device.

Also, the device may further comprise a data storage device configuredto store data of the touch screen device, and a RAM configured to drivethe touch screen device. A portion of the data storage device may beconfigured into the panel information storage device.

According to another embodiment broadly disclosed herein, a method ofoperating a touch screen device is provided in which a detector,configured to detect a screen touch is divided into an execution areaconfigured to execute a menu when the menu placed on the execution areais touched and a selection area configured to move menu images when theselection area is touched, the method including recognizing the screentouch, executing a relevant menu placed on a touch point when the touchpoint is within the execution area, and sequentially moving menu imagesplaced on the selection area to the execution area when the touch pointis within the selection area. The menu images may be continuously movedwhile the touch on the selection area is maintained. A method ofoperating digital equipment having a touch screen device may comprisethe method. The digital equipment may comprise a MP3 player, a portablemedia player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebookcomputer.

According to another embodiment broadly disclosed herein, a method ofoperating a touch screen device is provided in which a detectorconfigured to detect a screen touch is divided into a moving areaconfigured to move a menu from a touch point along a drag line while themenu is dragged and an execution area configured to execute a relevantmenu when the touch on the execution area is released, the methodcomprising recognizing the screen touch, moving an image of the relevantmenu along the drag line when the menu is dragged, and executing therelevant menu when the touch on the execution area is released. Themethod may further comprise returning the image of the relevant menu toan initial position before the touch, when the touch is released fromthe moving area. A method of operating digital equipment having a touchscreen device may comprise the method. The digital equipment maycomprise a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, anavigation system, or a notebook computer.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis invention. More particularly, reasonable variations andmodifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements ofthe subject combination arrangement within the scope of the foregoingdisclosure, the drawings and the appended claims without departing fromthe spirit of the disclosure. In addition to variations andmodifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternativeuses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch screen device, comprising: a touch screencomprising a display configured to display menu images thereon and adetector configured to detect a screen touch; and a controllerconfigured to control operations of the touch screen device according tothe screen touch detected by the detector, wherein the touch screen isdivided by the controller into an execution area configured to execute amenu corresponding to a menu image placed on the execution area when theexecution area is touched, and a selection area configured to displayone or more menu images and sequentially move the one or more menuimages to the execution area when the selection area is touchedirrespective of whether the touch on the selection area is dragged ornot.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a touch isdetected on the selection area, the controller causes the one or moremenu images to be continuously moved while the touch on the selectionarea is maintained.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecontroller causes the one or more menu images to pass through theexecution area one-by-one while the touch on the selection area ismaintained.
 4. Digital equipment comprising the touch screen device ofclaim
 1. 5. The digital equipment of claim 4, wherein the digitalequipment comprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portableterminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.
 6. A touch screendevice, comprising: a touch screen comprising a display configured todisplay menu images thereon and a detector configured to detect a screentouch; and a controller configured to control operations of the touchscreen device according to the screen touch detected by the detector,wherein the touch screen is divided by the controller into a moving areaconfigured to move a menu image from a touch point along a drag linewhile the menu image is dragged, and an execution area configured toexecute a menu corresponding to the menu image when the touch isreleased on the execution area, wherein when the menu image is draggedinto the execution area, a menu image previously located in theexecution area pops out of the execution area and returns to itsoriginal position in the moving area.
 7. The device as claimed in claim6, wherein the controller returns the menu image to an initial positionbefore the touch, when the touch is released from the moving area. 8.The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the touch screen is aresistive or capacitive touch screen.
 9. Digital equipment comprisingthe touch screen device of claim
 6. 10. The digital equipment of claim9, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, a portablemedia player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebookcomputer.
 11. A touch screen device, comprising: a touch panelconfigured to detect a screen touch; a touch panel controller configuredto signalize the touch detected on the touch panel and control the touchpanel; a display configured to display images; a panel informationstorage device configured to store data of the touch panel; and a maincontroller configured to control operation of the touch panel controllerand the display, wherein the main controller is further configured tocontrol operations of the touch screen device according to the screentouch detected by the touch panel, wherein the touch panel is divided bythe main controller into an execution area configured to execute a menucorresponding to a menu image placed on the execution area when theexecution area is touched, and a selection area configured to displayone or more menu images and sequentially move the one or more menuimages to the execution area when the selection area is touchedirrespective of whether the touch on the selection area is dragged ornot.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the panelinformation storage device stores partition information of the touchpanel divided into the execution area and the selection area.
 13. Thedevice as claimed in claim 12, wherein the partition information isclassified by operation mode.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 12,wherein the panel information storage device is a NOR flash memory. 15.The device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a USB portconnected to an external device configured to update or modify thepartition information stored in the panel information storage device.16. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a datastorage device configured to store data of the touch screen device; anda RAM configured to drive the touch screen device.
 17. The device asclaimed in claim 16, wherein a portion of the data storage device isconfigured into the panel information storage device.
 18. A method ofoperating a touch screen device in which a touch screen configured todetect a screen touch is divided into an execution area and a selectionarea, the method comprising: displaying menu images; recognizing thescreen touch; executing a relevant menu corresponding to a menu imageplaced on the execution area when the touch point is within theexecution area; and sequentially moving one or more menu images placedon the selection area to the execution area when the touch point iswithin the selection area irrespective of whether the touch on theselection area is dragged or not.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 18,wherein the one or more menu images are continuously moved while thetouch on the selection area is maintained.
 20. A method of operatingdigital equipment having a touch screen device, comprising the method ofclaim
 18. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the digital equipmentcomprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, anavigation system, or a notebook computer.
 22. A method of operating atouch screen device in which a touch screen configured to detect ascreen touch is divided into a moving area and an execution area, themethod comprising: displaying menu images; recognizing the screen touch;moving a menu image along a drag line when the menu image is dragged;and executing a relevant menu corresponding to the menu image when thetouch is released on the execution area, wherein when the menu image isdragged into the execution area, a menu image previously located in theexecution area pops out of the execution area and returns to itsoriginal position in the moving area.
 23. The method as claimed in claim22, further comprising returning the menu image of the relevant menu toan initial position before the touch, when the touch is released fromthe moving area.
 24. A method of operating digital equipment having atouch screen device, comprising the method of claim
 22. 25. The methodof claim 24, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, aportable media player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or anotebook computer.